After anxiously waiting four years, the Olympic Games are back. I vividly remember watching the closing ceremony of the London Olympic Games back in 2012. It was the summer before my freshman year of high school, a crazy and overly complicated time when choosing classes mattered and grades became increasingly stressed. As those games came to a close, though, I had the startling realization that the next time the games would appear, I would have graduated from high school and I would be ready to leave home for college. Little high school freshman me tried to picture schooling far off, living on my own, taking care of myself. I remember finishing the London Games deep in thought because I didn’t really have an answer to where I pictured myself in four years.

The Olympics are an exciting time because while politically the world may seem to be a disaster, the Olympics prove our ability to play and compete united, together. And it’s pretty amazing to watch.

The Beijing 2008 Opening Ceremony was electrifying to watch as the stage was filled with thousands of cohesive performers in a seamless production. My entire family was huddled around with me, my aunt, uncles, cousins, grandparents, all watching it unfold as the ceremony just so happened to fall on my tenth birthday.

Then again in 2012, London amazed me as James Bond and the Queen parachuted in and the enormous five rings were molded and lifted together. I, my family, and the world was astounded by the unexpectedly fantastic openings and sixteen days of Games that followed.

Four years goes by fast and Rio 2016 has arrived.

Rio was barraged with criticism going into the Olympics, leaving their opening ceremony undoubtedly also under high scrutiny. Poor NBC coverage of the event didn’t help Rio’s viewing numbers.

But the Rio opening ceremony still struck me as an impressive, world-enriching presentation. The goal was to show Brazil, their history and what it has become. It was a unique and creative display, not nearly as massive or show-stopping as China or England. But those are completely differently countries with completely different cultures, backgrounds, and goals. Brazil colorfully displayed its history beginning with the indigenous people and concluding with growing buildings and large cities. Climate change was a main focus and one I believe Brazil wants to help change for a better world. Protecting the incredible mass of the Amazon rainforest hasn’t always been easy or successful, but Rio’s message for change displays their hope for a better future. As I watched again with my family as Rio opened the Olympics, I was not at all disappointed but felt a connection to a new culture through the world’s impact and involvement with climate change.

Rio de Janeiro is known for its drastic social and economic spectrum but these Olympics prove hope for change. Their culture and roots won’t change, as we saw proudly displayed during the opening, but hope for a new, worldly, cohesive country is there.

These Olympics symbolize my big step to college while they symbolize to their home city of Rio de Janeiro a leap to new equalities. The Olympics mark major checkpoints in our lives that we remember alongside our families, and the world. The Olympics mark and make memories, simultaneously bringing us all together through culture and the love of the Games.